Arbosculus

Arbosculus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, native to the tropical regions of Africa and Asia. The genus is characterized by its small, evergreen trees and shrubs, which typically grow to a height of 5-10 meters. The leaves are pinnate, with 5-11 leaflets, and the flowers are small, yellow, and borne in axillary racemes. The fruit is a pod, which contains one or two seeds.

There are currently three recognized species in the genus Arbosculus: Arbosculus heterophyllus, Arbosculus longifolius, and Arbosculus sericeus. All three species are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and over-exploitation for their timber and medicinal properties. Arbosculus heterophyllus is the most widely distributed species, occurring in the forests of West Africa, while Arbosculus longifolius and Arbosculus sericeus are found in the forests of Southeast Asia.

The genus Arbosculus is named after the Greek words "arbos" meaning "tree" and "skelos" meaning "branch", reflecting the branching habit of the plants. The specific epithets of the species are derived from Latin words describing the characteristics of the leaves and the texture of the bark.